{"id":6230,"date":"2022-10-05T06:18:51","date_gmt":"2022-10-05T06:18:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.accesspsych.com.au\/?p=6230"},"modified":"2022-10-31T02:15:57","modified_gmt":"2022-10-31T02:15:57","slug":"mental-health-support-teenagers-online-bullying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.accesspsych.com.au\/staging\/mental-health-support-teenagers-online-bullying\/","title":{"rendered":"Social nightmares: online bullying and teenagers"},"content":{"rendered":"

We live in a world where everything we interact with \u2013 from news, people, entertainment and much more \u2013 is done so with the help of the internet and technology.<\/p>\n

In fact, Australians spend just over six hours<\/a> on the internet each and every day, with social media making up just under two ours of that time.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, not everyone who uses the internet is responsible, or does so with the best intentions, something that\u2019s a real problem.<\/p>\n

According to a report<\/a> released by the eSafety Commissioner in 2021, 44% of young Australians report having a negative online experience.<\/p>\n

Of these young people, 15% said they had received threats or abuse online, whilst other negative experiences included being excluded from social groups.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk about all aspects of online bullying. From defining what online bullying is, to the different types of online bullying, to mental health support for teenagers experiencing online bullying, we\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What is online bullying? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Online bullying, also known as cyberbullying, is a form of bullying where someone causes harm or distress using technology, such as phones, computers or tablets.<\/p>\n

Although online bullying takes place on the internet, such as on social media websites, it can take place without the internet, such as through text messages.<\/p>\n

Online bullying doesn\u2019t discriminate. Even though it is most common between young people, it can and does happen to adults, regardless of age.<\/p>\n

Is there only one type of online bullying?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You might think that online bullying is one dimensional, and it just involves someone sending a nasty or upsetting messages to someone else online.<\/p>\n

However, things aren\u2019t that simple. The reality is that online bullying has many forms, and different types of online bullying can cause a range of negative emotions and seriously affect a person\u2019s wellbeing.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the common types of online bullying:<\/p>\n

Exclusion<\/u><\/h3>\n

With exclusion, the bully will intentionally leave someone out of an online group or message thread, leaving the victim feeling lonely.<\/p>\n

Trolling<\/u><\/h3>\n

Trolling is internet slang for a person who intentionally starts arguments or upsets others by posting inflammatory remarks, often making the victim feeling angry or hurt.<\/p>\n

Outing<\/u><\/h3>\n

Outing occurs when a bully reveals personal information without the victims consent, often in the hope of making the victim feel embarrassed.<\/p>\n

Cyberstalking<\/u><\/h3>\n

Cyberstalking is when the bully persistently harasses or stalks another person online, often in the form of e-mails, texts and social media posts.<\/p>\n

Harassment<\/u><\/h3>\n

Harassment takes place when the bully sends repeated, hurtful online messages to the victim. These messages often contain threats.<\/p>\n

Who is most at risk of online bullying?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Anyone can be at risk of online bullying, regardless of your age, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic background or anything else for that matter.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, there are some common aspects of the victims that often repeat themselves. Verywellmind has put together a list<\/a> of some of these characteristics.<\/p>\n

These include:<\/p>\n